Charles h



C. H. PATTERSON.

WEANER.

APPLICATIO'N FILED MAY 24. ms.

1,303,587. Patented May 13,1919.

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Miro-Luna" WASHINGTUN. n c.

UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

" CHARLES H. rnrrnnsonfor "TRINIDAD, coDoiaADo, ASSIGNOR TO THE PATTERSON .5 COLT AND 'cA' E WEANER 00., INCORPORATED, or TRINIDAD, COLORADO.

EwEnnns.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, CHARLEs I-I. FATHER- soN,'a citizen of the United States, residing at Trinidad, in the county of Las Animas and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Weaners, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to calf and colt weaners; and it has for one of its objects to provide in a calf or coltweanersimple, durable and reliable means forloclzing the closure member in closed position when the calf or colt raises its'head to nurse, and this without interfering with the calf or colt grazing in the usual manner when it places its muzzle adjacent to the ground.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a calf or colt weaner of a muzzlereceiving body having swages 'or corrugations extending around it at intervals, this with a view to rendering the said body stiff and strong notwithstanding it is formed of thin sheet metal.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claim when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming'part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a View illustrating my novel weaner as the same appears when a calf lifts its head to attempt to nurse.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the weaner when the calf places its muzzle to the ground.

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2, and showing the arrangement of the swinging locking member relative to the closure member,

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken through the weaner body in the plane indicated by line 4-4; of Fig. 2 and showing one of the corrugations for lending increased rigidity and strength to the body.

'Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views of the drawings.

The body 1 of my novel weaner is formed of thin sheet metal for the sake of lightness, is provided at intervals in its height with corrugations 2 to render it stilf and strong, and is foraminous, as indicated by 3, for ventilation purposes. At opposite sides the body is provided with apertures 4 to receive halter straps or other suitable means Patented May 13, 1919.

v Application filed May 24. 1918 Serial No. 236.392.

through the medium of which the body is secured on the muzzle of a calf or colt.

Pivoted at 5 to the body 1 is the swinging locking member 6 which is provided at its terminal with a loop 8. The said member 6 is shown at the right-hand side of the body, but obviously may be arranged at either side of the body without affecting my invention. a v

:The closure member 9 of the weaner is formed of sheet-metal slightly thicker than that of the body, and is made up of a trans verse portion 10, preferably foraminous for ventilation purposes, side flanges 11, and a transverse bar 12 interposed between and connecting the flanges 11 at their upper rear corners. In one flange 11 is a slot 13, and

through this slot extends the loop 8 of the locking member 6; the inner portionof the loop being disposed at the inner side of the flange which is preferably provided adj acent to the slot with a swell 14.

In the practical use of the weaner, when the calf puts its head in a raised position to nurse, the closure member swings to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the loop of the locking member gravitates to the position shown in said figure in the slot, with the result that the closure member is securely locked in the closed position and the calf is elfectually prevented from nursing no matter how strenuously it may endeavor to do so. When, however, the calf lowers its muzzle to the ground the locking member will swing forwardly to a perpendicular position and in that way release the closure member which will gravitate to the open position shown in Fig. 2, by reason of its rear portion being comparativelyheavy, with the result that the lower end of the weaner body will be left entirely open and the calf will be left free to graze.

Should the locking member tend to bind when the calf places its muzzle to the ground, slight pressure of the closure member against the ground or the striking of the same against the ground will quickly release the lockin member and the automatic operation referred to will promptly ensue.

I would have it understood that the slot 13 of somewhat semi-circular form and the swell 14 which is provided adjacent to the slot serve the very important purpose of causing the loop 8 of the locking member to ride outwardly when the animal raises or lowers his head and will further form a v slight seat at either end of the slot and thereby hold the loop a more or less" rigid manner: It will be gathered from the fore- 7 going that the said lock consists of a very ingenious and inexpensive device and yet when the weaner is locked at either position the same can be unlocked and the loop caused to ride in the slot 13 with but-a minimum amount of eiiort on the part of the calf or colt.

' Having described my invention,- what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

' In a weather, the combination of a muzzle-receiving body, a closure member pivoted thereto and having a-comparatively heavy rear portion, and cooperating means complementary to the body and the closure member, respectively, constructed and arranged to lock the closure-member in closed position Copies or this patent may be obtained for when the animal raises its head to nurse and also constructed and arranged to release the closure member when the animal lowers its head to graze, the said locking means comprising a slot forming an arcof a circle having a swell adjacent thereto and a loop that moves upwardly and downwardly in the slot whereby when the closure member is gravitating to its closed or open position the said loop will be caused to ride outwardly to a slight extent or fall inwardly when the closure: member has reached its uppermost or lowermost position,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. GHARLES- H. PATTERSON.

Witnesses-z VossBEoE; PETER SOHNELL;

five cents each; by addresling the commissioner of ratentl.

Washington; D. 0." 

